Cooper Flagg makes NBA debut at MSG; Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart return for Knicks as Mavericks roll

Cooper Flagg warms up earlier than Monday’s matchup in opposition to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

NEW YORK (AP) — Dallas rookie Cooper Flagg returned from a two-game absence for his first professional sport at Madison Square Garden, whereas Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart rejoined the Knicks on Monday after a stretch that the staff has struggled with out them.

Flagg scored 18 factors, additionally knocking down seven rebounds in 28 minutes, after he sat out each victories over Utah in a two-game collection; he sprained his left ankle final Wednesday in opposition to Denver. He labored out earlier than the Martin Luther King Jr. Day sport earlier than the Mavericks stated the No. 1 decide within the draft was obtainable to play.

Brunson, who posted 22 factors (9-24 FGs) and 6 assists in 33 minutes, missed the final two video games with a sprained proper ankle and the Knicks dropped them each. They have misplaced the final 4 occasions they performed with out their All-Star level guard.

Hart lately missed eight video games after spraining his ankle on Christmas. He returned to play in three earlier than sitting out a loss to Phoenix on Saturday due to soreness. The Knicks have been simply 3-6 in these video games with out him. He completed with eight factors, six rebounds and three assists in 27 minutes.

Injuries have been one of many causes behind the Knicks’ 2-8 stretch coming into the sport. Coach Mike Brown stated when he was getting ready for the sport that it felt like the primary time he had his full roster obtainable all season. He was fascinated with taking part in a gaggle collectively Monday and was stunned when an analytics staffer instructed him he hadn’t been capable of put these 5 gamers on the court docket on the identical time.

“I said, ‘Hey, what does this group look like analytically, offensively and defensively,’ and he said, ‘You haven’t played that combination together,’” Brown stated.

But, he famous, the Knicks have been successful regardless of their absences earlier within the season.

“Any time you’re missing anybody it’s tough, but I’ve said this before, that’s why we have 16 guys,” Brown stated. “I will say at the beginning of the season when we were missing guys we found a way to get it done and if we’re missing guys in the future we have to continue to try to find a way to get it done.”